On-Deck Monday: Astros visit Petco Park for four games

The Series: The worst record in the National League will be on line over the next four days at Petco Park. The teams split a four-game series in Houston June 25-28. The Astros are a major league-worst 9-35 on the road this season – which is a full five games worse than the second-worst record. The Padres won three of four games from the Astros at Petco Park last season. Houston has lost 13 of its last 14 games. The Astros move to the American League next season, meaning this is the last time the Padres and Astros meet as National League rivals.

Wells, 35, will be making his fourth start as a Padre and his second against the Astros. He made his Padres debut June 26 at Houston, allowing five runs (two earned) on seven hits and three walks over five innings. It was Wells’ wild throw on a potential double play ball that resulted in the three unearned runs and his first loss as a Padre. Wells has given up two homers in each of his two losses with home runs accounting for six of the eight runs he has allowed. Wells is 4-10 lifetime against the Astros with a 5.26 ERA in 21 games (19 starts).

Happ, 29, will be facing the Padres for the first time this season. He is 1-2 in his career against the Padres with a 2.74 ERA in five games (four starts). His 11 quality starts this season ties left-hander Wandy Rodriguez for the Astros lead. Originally a third-round pick of Philadelphia in the 2004 draft, Happ came to the Astros in 2010 as part of the trading deadline deal that sent Roy Oswalt to the Phillies. Happ’s average of 8.63 strikeouts per nine innings (94 in 98 innings) ranks sixth in the National League.